The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-23
ORIGIN A l..
An Evenings Outing in Washington.
BY HALE WEATHERWELL.


triotism in the American of to-day
My own particular thrills were no
vigorous, and I preferred hearing ar
Irishman lecture about England's mer
and parties to attending some bolster
Gus celebration of Washington's 155tf
birthday.
The Congregational Church was wei
filled, and when Justin Mccarthy, M
P, appeared on the platform he wa:
greeted with applause worthy the
man. His subject was "English Ora
tors, Statesmen and Parties," and he
spoke as easily as if only breathing, al
the same time filling the immense
house with the we'll modulated tones
of his strong, yet gentle voice.
In talking Of Parliament, Mr.. Nc
Carthy traced at length, and with par
ticularity, the many parties into which
that body has at times been divided
and sub-divided. He spoke modestly
but hopefully, of the "Irish Parlia'
mentary Party" and its work in free
ing the Emerald Isle from the heavy
yoke that England burdened it with
in the opening of the present century.
"a doom awaits every Peer of the
Realm, and that doom is penal SER
vitude in the House of Lords, servi'
tude that death alone can break" This
royal side of Parliamentis in low es-
TEEN with Mr.. Mccarthy, and he says
he stands in no fear of its opposition,
as the Lords will not dare thwart the
peoples will, lest there be an uphea-
val so powerful as to shake the king
dom.
Whatever division of his subject he
was handling, Mr.. Mccarthy spoke in
such a way as to keep Ireland's cause
in the minds of his hearers, and yet
he held ON faithfully to his advertised
lines: still, "Ireland of the 10th Gen.
tury" proved cleverly illustratory OF
the powers of Gladstone, the perfidy OF
Churchill, the renegade, the grasping
shrewdness of Goschen, the notorious
financier.
In the speakers opinion, Mr.. Glad
stone is the most sagacious and power,
full statesman that England has known
for ages. He does not regard him as
the greatest orator of the day, although
his voice, that is now broken, possess.
es much of the mans magnetism
Gladstone's power is IN debate. Seem
ingly as easy as to make an ordinary
address, is it for the EX-Premier to
arise after hearing, perhaps, ten or a
dozen speeches by as many men, and
reply to them all, not merely in the or
der of their delivery, but to consider
the points brought forward in each IN
| it's proper place. Mr.. Cowan, q mem
Der of the Commons, from Ireland, is
the real orator, according to the Judg-
ment of his fellow-countryman.
Mr.. Mccarthy is sanguine of early
success in obtaining "Home Rule" for
Ireland, and truthfully, though rather
sentimentally, proclaims that when
the day of brightness dawns, ST. Pat,
rick's people twill raise o column OF
glory which the world will honor and
applaud, and on which the names o,
William Ewart Gladstone and Charles
Stuart Parnell will be historically en-
graven.n What pity to mar a plain
and brilliant narrative of Britain's
large concerns by ending with touch
of energetic emptiness.
An informal reception was held al.
ter the conclusion of the lecture, and
had the pleasure of meeting the ia
nous reformer. A close observation
left this impression of Mccarthy, the
man about five feet and nine inches
high, "well-built," erect; head as
finely shaped-as nearly perfect-as
any [ have seen; his hair is reddish
dark-brown, freely sprinkled Win
gray, and his full beard of four inches
is even more frosted than the hair. A
beaming, friendly face, full of strength
and determination eyes of dark and
brilliant, blue; a forehead that is a
plain "sign-board" for the man Of in
tellect and learning who bears it.
Turning away from this great man,
this renowned historian, literateur,
statesman and orator,-with all the de-
light of the recent meeting, | was star,
tied by the repulsive face and figure OF
DR.. Mary Walker, who was close be-
side me. She was present in gentle.
mans full evening dress, an overooat
hung upon her arm, beaver was In
her hand. This feature Of the object
NJ ar me was disgusting, but utterly
adhorrible were the withered and sal.
low cheeks, the glittering and almost
black eyes, the thin, yellowish lips
making altogether hideous face, full
of perk and sinister expression.
Actually shuddering from contact
with this human travesty, l hastily
left the house; and, though the hour
was late, remembered that the Presi'
dent and Mrs. Cleveland were holding
their closing reception before Lent, sc
I hurried to the "White House," and
took my place at the end of the pro-
cession that was marching in. Happi
ly, the lateness of my arrival saveo
me from waiting very long. Once IN
the Executive Mansion, / was quickly
ushered into the "Blue Parlor," ant
presented first to the President, ant
then to his wife. How kind and pains
taking Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland are
They stand for hours on such occa
sions, shaking hands with thousands
of curious strangers of all classes anc
styles. AS one approaches, the ushe
in front of the President pronounce!
the name, and Mr.. Cleveland give!
the hand hearty shake, repeats tht
name of the person before him, smiles
and the stranger steps forward few
feet, and enacts the same ceremon.
with "the lady Of the land.n